Filing a complaint against a therapist is a serious undertaking that involves a thorough investigation process by state licensing boards. It is a process by which you can advise the state that a therapist has done something that has caused you significant harm. There are benefits to filing a board complaint for the patient and for society as a whole:
- Accountability: Ensures the therapist is held responsible for their actions, which can prevent future misconduct.
- Protection for Others: Helps protect other clients from potential harm by addressing and correcting unethical behavior.
- Professional Standards: Upholds the standards of the profession, reinforcing the importance of ethical behavior among therapists.
What To Consider Before Filing a Complaint Against a Therapist
Filing a complaint, however, is not something that should be done lightly as the therapist can face serious consequences as a result, including the suspension or complete loss of his or her license to practice. It is important that only valid claims proceed because:
- Protecting the Therapist’s Career: False or unfounded claims can unjustly ruin a therapist’s career and reputation.
- Resource Allocation: Licensing boards have limited resources, and investigating invalid claims diverts time and effort away from addressing genuine cases of misconduct.
- Credibility of the System: The integrity of the complaint process relies on the validity of the claims. If the system is flooded with baseless complaints, it may undermine trust in its effectiveness.
- Emotional Impact: The process can be emotionally taxing for all parties involved. Invalid claims can cause unnecessary stress and harm to therapists and their families.
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How To File An Official Complaint Against Your Therapist
If you do believe that a therapist has committed a serious breach of professional standards or ethics, however, filing a complaint is one avenue available to let your grievance be heard, and potentially prevent others from being harmed as well.
You can file a complaint against a therapist on your own; you do not need an attorney to assist you.
The process each state takes to investigate a claim will differ. In a general sense, however, when you file a complaint, the licensing board initiates an investigation. This typically involves interviews with both you and the therapist so that the licensing board can understand the situation fully. Additionally, the board meticulously may ask to review documents, such as email and text messages, to ensure a full and fair assessment. So, it is important you retain everything and not delete anything that is considered evidence in a licensing review.
To file a complaint, you’ll typically need to complete an official complaint form and submit it to the relevant licensing board which we’ve listed below for each state. These forms are often available for download as PDFs or accessible as interactive online forms, conveniently located on the licensing board’s or state professional licensing department’s website. Below are links and instructions on how to report a therapist for each state in the US.
In certain instances, you might need to request the form to be sent to you via mail, fax, or email. Once you have the form, carefully review any accompanying instructions and provide all necessary information. After completing the form, you can submit it electronically through the website or by traditional mail.
What Happens After You File a Complaint Against a Therapist
Once you file a complaint, the board will contact you to advise of the next steps. Make sure you comply promptly and professionally, and that you meet any submission deadlines set by the board. You should not be having any further contact with your former therapist, and again, make sure you do not destroy any electronic correspondence between you.
If the board finds the complaint lacks merit or falls outside the scope of licensing laws or professional codes of ethics, it will be dismissed, and no further action will be taken. If, however, the board finds a breach of professional standards, you will be advised of the board’s decision.
If you have a legitimate, serious concern about the conduct of a therapist, you should be able to access the complaint filing procedure in your state from the following chart.
| State | Licensing Board | Website | Complaint Procedure | Type of Therapists |
| Alabama | Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Alaska | Alaska Board of Professional Counselors | Link | Link | Professional Counselors |
| Alaska | Alaska Board of Marital & Family Therapy | Link | Link | Marital and Family Therapist; Marital and Family Therapy Associate |
| Arizona | Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners | Link | Link | Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers, Substance Abuse Counselors |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| California | California Board of Behavioral Sciences | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Clinical Counselors, Social Workers |
| Colorado | Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners | Link | Link | Professional Counselors |
| Colorado | Colorado State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Public Health | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Delaware | Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Chemical Dependency Counselors |
| Florida | Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling | Link | Link | Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors |
| Georgia | Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors |
| Idaho | Idaho Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Indiana | Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors |
| Iowa | Iowa Board of Behavioral Science | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Kansas | Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Psychotherapists |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Pastoral Counselors |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors | Link | Link | Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Maine | Maine Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Maryland | Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Rehabilitation Counselors, Applied Behavior Analysts |
| Michigan | Michigan Board of Counseling | Link | Link | Professional Counselors |
| Michigan | Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Alcohol and Drug Counselors |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Board of Marriage & Family Therapy | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Mississippi | Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors | Link | Link | Professional Counselors |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists | Link | Link | Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Missouri | Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors | Link | Link | Professional Counselors |
| Missouri | Missouri State Committee of Marital & Family Therapists | Link | Link | Marital & Family Therapists |
| Montana | Montana Board of Behavioral Health | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Nevada | Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinical Professional Counselors |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers, Pastoral Psychotherapists |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee | Link | Link | Professional Counselors |
| New Jersey | New Jersey State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Art Therapists |
| New York | New York State Office of Professions | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Psychoanalysts, Creative Arts Therapists |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors | Link | Link | Clinical Mental Health Counselors |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners | Link | Link | Professional Counselors |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Marriage & Family Therapy Licensure Board | Link | Link | Marriage & Family Therapists |
| Ohio | Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board | Link | Link | Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Behavioral Practitioners |
| Oregon | Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors | Link | Link | Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Counselors |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage/Family Therapists | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors, Psycho-Educational Specialists |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors & Marriage and Family Therapists | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists, Clinical Pastoral Therapists |
| Texas | Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors | Link | Link | Professional Counselors |
| Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists | |
| Utah | Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Professional Licensing | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors |
| Utah | Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Professional Licensing | Link | Link | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Vermont | Vermont Board of Allied Mental Health | Link | Link | Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Virginia | Virginia Board of Counseling | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Health | Link | Link | Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling and Social Work Examining Board | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board | Link | Link | Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists |
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